MAGELLAN PETROLEUM CORPORATION
10 COLUMBUS BLVD. 10TH FLOOR
HARTFORD, CT 06106
January
5, 2009
Via EDGAR
Correspondence
Mr. Gary
Newberry
Division
of Corporation Finance
U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission
Station
Place
100 F.
Street, N.E.
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FOR
COMMISSION USE ONLY
RE: Magellan
Petroleum Corporation
Form 10-K for Fiscal Year
Ended June 30, 2008
Filed September 25,
2008
Form 10-Q for Fiscal Quarter
Ended September 30, 2008
Filed November 13, 2008,
File No. 1-5507
Dear Mr.
Newberry:
Thank you
for the Staff’s December 17th letter
providing comments on the disclosures contained in the recently filed Form 10-K
Annual Report and Form 10-Q Quarterly Report of Magellan Petroleum Corporation
(the “Company”) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“SEC”).
As you
discussed with Ted Whittemore of Murtha Cullina LLP, the Company’s legal
counsel, today by telephone, the Company is working on its written reply to the
Staff’s December 17th
letter. The Company hopes to submit its written reply to the Staff
during the week of January 19th-23rd, and in
any event not later than Friday, January 30th.
If you
have any questions, please feel free to call me at 860-293-2006 or Edward B.
Whittemore of Murtha Cullina LLP at (860) 240-6075.
Sincerely,
/f/
Daniel J.
Samela
Chief
Financial Officer
Magellan
Petroleum Corporation
cc: Walter
McCann
William Hastings
John Slyh
Edward
Whittemore